Hidden Treasure

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." (1)

In ancient times, it was customary for men to hide their treasures and wealth in the earth. Where else could they put it safely. They had no banks or safety deposit boxes back then. A man might lease land to cultivate it. As he plowed the ground to prepare for his Spring planting, he discovers a chest of buried treasure. A fortune in gold coins is buried there. He seals and covers it over, returns to his home and sells all that he has in order to purchase the field he has leased. When he has title to the land, the treasure is now his.

This parable illustrates the value of the heavenly treasure. The kingdom of heaven is like the treasure buried in the field. The finder of the treasure is ready to part with all that he has in order to secure the buried riches. Likewise, the finder of the heavenly treasure will count no sacrifice to great in order to gain the treasures that God has in store for him.

In the parable, the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures and the gospel is the treasure. The earth itself does not contain the gold and precious metals and gems that can compare in value to what God has in store for those who get to know Him.

God does not conceal His truth from men. By their own course of action they make it obscure to themselves. Christ gave the Jewish people abundant evidence that He was the Messiah, but His teaching called for a decided change in their lives. They saw that if they received Christ, they must give up their cherished traditions, their selfishness and ungodly practices. It requires a sacrifice to accept changeless eternal truth. When we accept the truth we give up all that is harmful to us, our unholy addictions.

Jesus came to reveal the Father to us and to take away our sins. What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. (2) The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. (3) It is only in God that we receive the fullness of life now and the eternal life that Jesus came to give hereafter. God's treasures are not hidden. They are open and available to everyone. But to many, the Bible looks just like any other book, and its treasures are not perceived. They are like hidden in the earth. They are nevertheless real and as available to all as is the sun by day and the moon by night. God is our Provider and He has so much more in store for those who will get to know Him.

1. Matthew 13:44.
2. Matthew 16:26.
3. Romans 6:23.